16D15N Spain, Morocco and Portugal

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Join your Local Specialist on this day of discovery, which includes views of the iconic Cibeles fountain and Paseo de la Castellana. Admire the Royal Palace and El Retiro Park, originally created as a retreat for the royal family, before spending the rest of the day at leisure indulging in la buena vida. Consider an Optional Experience to the medieval UNESCO-listed city of Segovia or encounter the greatest collection of Spanish art in the world at El Prado.

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Witness the influence of Christians, Muslims and Jews that has spanned centuries in the imperial city of Toledo. Join your Local Specialist for a walking tour, during which you’ll visit the Church of Santo Tomé, home to El Greco’s most famous painting – ‘The Burial of the Count of Orgaz’. Then, visit the synagogue of Santa Maria La Blanca, believed to be the oldest one still standing in Europe. Celebrate the tradition of steel and Damascene manufacturing and moulding as you Dive Into Culture at a local workshop, before your journey continues through the soul-stirring Andalusian landscape to Granada, where we’ll spend the night.

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Tread in the footsteps of Spain’s last emirs and admire the impressive Alhambra – a collection of palaces and fortresses dating from the 12 century. We join a Local Specialist to explore its intricate designs, tranquil gardens and colossal walls, believed to have been inspired by poetry and reflecting the description of paradise found in Islamic verse. Later, we leave this ‘paradise on earth’ behind and continue to the Costa del Sol.

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We travel along the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean and cross to North Africa by ferry. A memorable drive past the Rif Mountains brings us to Fes, a storied hub of traditional craftsmanship and our home for the next two nights.

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Departing Fes, journey west through the golden landscape which turns to rusty red, bound for vibrant Marrakesh. Past and present collide in the world-famous Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Embrace the unrivalled energy of this cultural and economic hub.

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Visit the elegant Dar El Bacha Palace during your walking tour with a Local Specialist. See Jemaa el-Fnaa Square in the Old Quarter with its palm-readers, storytellers and snake charmers. Visit a traditional Moroccan pharmacy and Dive into Culture as you learn about the art of blending creams and cosmetics with regional ingredients. The rest of the day is yours to explore. Don’t miss the chance to shop for bargains in the souks (markets) and bazaars, or perhaps visit a local Berber village.

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Journey north to Casablanca and enjoy a visit to the Hassan II Mosque with your Local Specialist, before arriving in the country’s capital city.

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Today, you explore Rabat with your local specialist, stop at the opulent Mohammed V Mausoleum and admire Rabat’s cityscape, its historic and modern centers traversed by the Bou Regreg River below. Later, we continue to Tangier, a gateway between Africa and Europe as prominent today as in Phoenician times. Our unique Stays With Stories this evening is the sumptuous El Minzah, an icon of the city overlooking the Bay of Tangiers and the sparkling Mediterranean beyond. The grand property, built in the Spanish-Moorish style in 1930, has welcomed the rich and famous over the past century. You’ll get to experience its warm hospitality for yourself as you contemplate the building’s colourful history.

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Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry, we return to Spain and journey past the region of Jerez, renowned as the origin of Spanish sherry. Drive through Andalucía and arrive in Seville. What better way to experience this lively city than witnessing the passion of flamenco? Immerse yourself in the spectacle of colourful swirling skirts and fervent rhythm of castanets during an unforgettable optional Flamenco performance this evening.

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Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour which will take you past the iconic Giralda Bell Tower. Admire the tiled fountains and pavilions in the Maria Luisa Park, the showcase for the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929, and see the imposing Plaza de España. Visit the ornate tomb of Christopher Columbus in the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, then enjoy a walk through the lovely historic Jewish Quarter.

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Leaving the zesty scents of Seville behind, we head to the golden landscapes of the Alentejo, where the Brito Paes family await our arrival for a special lunch on their traditional stud ranch, which has been rearing Lusitano horses since the 18th century. This Be My Guest experience takes place in the home of their ancestors before we continue to Évora for a guided sightseeing tour. With a Local Specialist visit Evora’s cathedral, Roman temple and Chapel of Bones. Tonight, relax with dinner at your hotel.

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You can start your day exploring Evora’s maze of cobblestone streets or with an Optional Experience visit to Monsaraz, a fortified hilltop town set deep in the Alentejo. In the afternoon, say farewell to the cork trees of the Alentejo region and hello to the pastels of the Portuguese capital, where you’ll join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour. You’ll have an opportunity to Dive into Culture with a visit to the Belém Quarter and a taste of traditional Pastéis de Belém.

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Enjoy the day sauntering along Lisbon’s grand shopping boulevards and the narrow lanes of Bairro Alto or consider joining an Optional Experience to the historic towns of Cascais and Sintra. This evening, enjoy dinner with newfound friends and your Travel Director, toasting to an epic Iberian holiday.

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Our epic journey through Spain, Morocco and Portugal comes to an end this morning. All that’s left is to say a fond farewell to your newfound friends and an unforgettable experience shared. Your coach transfer will return to Madrid.

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